Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

Ray Clemence: It will be bad for English football if Tottenham sack Tim Sherwood

Ray Clemence believes Tottenham should stick with Tim Sherwood as their manager.

Ajax claimed on Tuesday that Tottenham had contacted them with a view to speaking to their manager Frank de Boer.

Spurs said in a statement released on Wednesday that any talk of an approach for De Boer was "wholly inaccurate", although the club have said in recent weeks that they will review Sherwood's position as head coach at the end of the year.

Clemence, who made 330 appearances for Spurs, has been dismayed by talk of Sherwood getting the sack.

The former England goalkeeper, who was speaking at the CV Show on behalf of Vauxhall, the England Team Sponsor, said: "I would hope he would be given a bit more time.

"Tim has a good record compared to (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger, and (Everton boss) Roberto Martinez.

"Wenger has been offered a new contract, everyone talks about how well Martinez has done, but everyone is talking about Tim, who has nearly done as well as they have towards the back end of the season, getting the sack.

"It really is a strange world we live in."

Bookmakers have made De Boer the clear favourite to succeed Sherwood this summer.

The former Holland international has followed an illustrious playing career with a fine start to managerial life at Ajax, winning four successive titles with the famous club.

The former Barcelona defender has said he is open to speaking to Spurs.

"I'm going to think about this possibility after the last league fixture on May 3," De Boer told nos.nl. "I'm going to talk and listen.

"I would like to add something to a club, that people can say they see the hand of Frank de Boer.

"There is a beautiful example at Liverpool. That is what Brendan Rodgers is doing now [making his mark]."

Clemence feels it would be a shame for English coaches around the country if Spurs sacked their manager 12 months before the end of his contract.

"That would not be good for English football," Clemence said. "All of us that have been involved want to see as many English coaches and managers being involved at the top clubs.

"There is an obsession at the moment that foreign is better.

"But you just have to look at someone like Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool... he has done a fantastic job."